CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Duke players wouldn’t say it, because who likes to admit they won a game they probably shouldn’t have?

So, no, they insisted they didn’t steal the game Wednesday night against No. 4 North Carolina. They earned it with their hot shooting down the stretch, good perimeter defense and a stubbornness to give in to exhaustion.

The last part was probably the biggest key of all, as the No. 19 Blue Devils played essentially five players for almost the entire game, which they won, 74-73, in thrilling fashion.

Duke had already been down to a six-man rotation after senior small forward Amile Jefferson went out with an injury to his right foot in December. But after guard Matt Jones sprained his left ankle midway through the first half Wednesday, the Blue Devils were down to just five.

Though reserve forward Chase Jeter spelled Marshall Plumlee briefly — five minutes total during the game, and that includes when he subbed in after Plumlee picked up his fourth foul in the second half — don’t expect his minutes to drastically increase if Jones joins Jefferson on the sideline.

Earlier this week, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey was asked about the importance of having depth. He pointed out that last season, he utilized a six-man rotation, and that team won the ACC tournament and reached the Elite Eight.

“I think depth can be one of the most overrated things in college basketball on a game day,” said Brey, a former longtime Mike Krzyzewski assistant at Duke.

And though that’s true — evidenced by the Blue Devils winning a game in which they were seemingly disadvantaged in every facet — it’s not as true when you’re talking about two games in three days. Or back-to-back-to-back in a conference tournament. And five guys is different than six.

“We have a lot of guys who are fighters,” Plumlee said. “We fought through tired.”

It’s unclear how much time Jones may miss for the Blue Devils; all Krzyzewski said postgame Wednesday was that Jones “sprained his ankle pretty badly,” and that he wasn’t sure how long he’ll be out. Guard Grayson Allen said he knows there are no scholarship guards left on the bench, so the team’s perimeter players better be able to “play through fatigue” moving forward.

“We made a short bench even shorter,” Allen said. “But we can get it done.”

Krzyzewski made just two substitutions throughout the entire second half: Jeter for Plumlee, then Plumlee back in for Jeter. “Who are we going to sub?” he asked afterward. “That’s that, man.”

Against a North Carolina team that wanted to push the pace and crash the boards — and did so quite effectively in the first half — Duke took its time as to not exhaust its limited personnel. In the second half, its offensive strategy centered on settling down and looking at matchups to exploit. Eventually, the strategy turned into a simple one: Give freshman stud Brandon Ingram the ball. That worked well, too, as he shot himself out of a rocky night. Freshman Luke Kennard, too, hit a monster three that helped Duke to its victory. Allen’s fearless drives to the basket — and subsequent fouls drawn — were important, too.

But while these pieces came together for an emotional victory against a hated rival, it’s not safe to assume Duke will be able to replicate this as successfully if it’s forced to play five for more than a game or two, or (gasp!) into March.

It’s this simple: You can steal one game. You can’t steal a month’s worth.

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University of Oregon Ducks guard Tyler Dorsey (5) reacts after scoring and picking up a foul during a game against the Oregon State University Beavers during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena.
Troy Wayrynen, USA TODAY Sports

Miami Hurricanes guard Ja'Quan Newton (0) has the ball knocked away as he drives the lane during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean E. Smith Center.
Rob Kinnan, USA TODAY Sports

Dayton Flyers center Steve McElvene (5) and St. Bonaventure Bonnies guard Jaylen Adams (10) watch a loose ball during the second half at University of Dayton Arena. St. Bonaventure won 79-72.
David Kohl, USA TODAY Sports